Arising from the Arise TV interview of the President in the month of June 2021, this columnist referred to President Muhammadu Buhari, as Baba – depicting him as the head of the family. In this context, the family is the country, Nigeria. Nothing seemingly has changed in the demeanor and disposition of Baba Buhari, from that time till now. Many Nigerians are apparently aghast and amazed at the seemingly irritating and irrational issue of reviving grazing routes. Pointedly, in that epoch-making interview, Baba Buhari, succinctly stated that he would ask the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, to dig out the archaic Gazette documenting grazing routes within the geographical context of Nigeria. Aftermath, many legal luminaries and pundits challenged Malami to publish such if it did exist. As we speak, there has not been any formal publication or referral to such Gazette, albeit, at a certain quarter, someone warily pointed to the existence of such routes in the northern region government of Sir Ahmadu Bello in the First Republic. Be that as it may, there is seemingly no publication to show the existence of such a Gazette. Even if it exists, are we now being governed as a region or federating States? Is it not high time the father of the house, Baba Buhari, listened to his children with demonstration of empathy putting himself in the shoes all tribes and nationalities within the geographical expression called Nigerian in a time like this when some citizens are battling with raising ransoms to be paid to kidnappers and bandits rampaging Nigeria landscape?
Revisiting that Channel TV interview of Governor Samuel Ortom
Recently, the Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, was on live television criticizing, critiquing and condemning the move by the Federal Government to review the open grazing route in the country. He was not mincing words in vehemently and vociferously declaring the unfairness and inequity of the action of Mr. President in this regard. Accordingly, to his account, it was alleged that there are 368 grazing routes in Nigeria. The Federal Government under the watch of Baba Buhari has directed that 25 States of the Federation will be penetrated with these grazing routes for the herders. To the Presidency, under Baba Buhari’s watch, this is the best solution to the incessant and irritant farmer – herder clash. In the said interview, Governor Ortom declared without reservation his disappointment with Mr. President. Initially, he thought Baba Buhari was misquoted as this line of thought goes against democratic norm. In angst, at a point in the interview, now available on YouTube, Dr Samuel Ortom, demanded in exasperation: “Are we in a Banana Republic?”
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Ortom’s Grouse and Matters Arising
In the constitution of Nigeria, there is no provision for the Federal Government to administrate in land matters for any State. The Lagos State Government obtained certain landmark judgements, when the incumbent Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice; and the incumbent Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, was the Chief of Staff in the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These cases were all pursued to the Supreme Court and won by Lagos State Government when the erstwhile President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, wanted to flex his military muscle as though forgetting he was a democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His government was defeated virtually in all cases. To Ortom, the Land Use Act vested the authority of land matters in any State of the Federation on the Governor of that State. In the interview, he frowned at the disposition of Baba Buhari as not depicting a democratically elected President. According to him, the Security Council had earlier met and deliberated on resolving the matter of herdsmen and farmers. It was at that meeting that a committee was appointed with the onerous duty of going round the States and deciphering acceptable ways and means of resolving the issue. According to him, the committee returned with ideas of ranching and grazing. He stated that some States opted for open grazing while many were for ranching. Many in the southern part of Nigeria opted for ranching. He was therefore perturbed to hear that the Presidency is pushing open grazing routes for 25 States! He declared that he was ready to pay for his life, if need be, as his State would not join the fray of open grazing no matter the threat or intimidation. The spokesman of Baba Buhari, Mr. Garba Shehu, responded by saying that Dr Ortom was attempting to put a wedge into the unity of the country and he was not stable in any party having changed his political platforms five times. To Garba Shehu there was no iota of truth in the alleged accusation of Baba Buhari that the President wanted to “Fulanise” Nigeria adding that Baba “is compassionate, just, and fair to all.” Furthermore, as if to compound and confuse the citizenry, he stated “the President’s wish is that open grazing should end, nobody wants it.” Is this true? The simple and salient question that Mr. Garba Shehu should respond to is: why is the sudden interest in reviewing 368 grazing routes supposedly backed up by seemingly non-existent antiquated and atavistic gazette?
Patriots: Do not “siddon look”: Is Nigeria going?
For the umpteenth time, this columnist, looking back over the years, as a sexagenarian, and grandfather, is challenging all elder statesmen and patriots to come out of docility and self-alienation. This is the time to come together to seek and pursue the peace and progress of Nigeria irrespective of where they may come from. Nigeria needs peace; and peace by all means. In coming together, from all nooks and cranny of Nigeria, they need to approach Baba Buhari, to demonstrate and depict with actions that he is the real and rational father of this house – Nigeria. Governor Ortom, in his interview, was perturbed that Benue State, as one of the champions of ranching, was bye-passed and Baba Buhari went to his home State of Katsina to invest a humongous N6.5 billion on ranching as if what was good for the goose was not good for the gander! How would Mr. President come clean on this regardless of Mr. Garba Shehu’s defense of his master? Should Mr. Garba Shehu be reminded that he that comes to equity must come with clean hands? The time has come for these patriots to collaboratively approach the President with cerebral sagacity and maturity as gray headed men and women are wont in the way of wisdom. Urgent actions should be taken before the ship of the state capsizes bearing in mind sundry security issues associated with banditry, herdsmen killings, kidnappings, and farmland destruction are rampaging the country unabated presently. To this columnist, dialogue and discourse must be resorted to in earnest as in the words of the great philosopher, Aristotle: “it is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.” Baba Buhari, it is imperative to show love, care and affection to the children of this house called Nigeria. God has destined you to be a father; all and sundry should see you as a good father to all in this house. Pitifully, many are seemingly losing hope. That is the reality, Baba!
Dr. Ekundayo, J. M. O., leadership researcher, and consultant, can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com
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